SCOTTISH LOWLANDS.
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Keightley, Thomas
Jo. Is it not a brave sight, Dorylas? Can the mortals Caper so nimbly?
Dor. Verily they cannot.
Jo. Does not King Oberon bear a stately presence? Mab is a beauteous empress.
Dor. Yet you kissed her With admirable courtship.
Jo. I do think There will be of Jocastus' brood in Fairy.
The. But what estate shall he assure upon me?
Jo. A royal jointure, all in Fairy land.
Dorylas knows it. A curious park—
Dor. Paled round about with pickteeth.
Jo. Besides a house made all of mother-of-pearl, An ivory tennis-court.
Dor. A nutmeg parlour.
Jo. A sapphire dairy-room.
Dor. A ginger hall.
Jo. Chambers of agate.
Dor. Kitchens all of crystal.
Am. O admirable! This it is for certain.
Jo. The jacks are gold.
Dor. The spits are Spanish needles.
Jo. Then there be walks—
Dor. Of amber.
Jo. Curious orchards—
Dor. That bear as well in winter as in summer.
Jo. 'Bove all, the fish-ponds, every pond is full—
Dor. Of nectar. Will this please you! Every grove Stored with delightful birds.
Act iii.—Scene 2.
Dorylas says,
Have at Jocastus' orchard! Dainty apples, How lovely they look! Why these are Dorylas' sweetmeats. Now must I be the princely Oberon, And in a royal humour with the rest Of royal fairies attendant, go in state To rob an orchard. I have hid my robes On purpose in a hollow tree.
Act iii.—Scene 4.
Dorylas with a bevy of Fairies.
Dor. How like you now, my Grace? Is not my countenance Royal and full of majesty? Walk not I Like the young prince of pygmies? Ha, my knaves, We'll fill our pockets. Look, look yonder, elves; Would not yon apples tempt a better conscience Than any we have, to rob an orchard? Ha! Fairies, like nymphs with child, must have the things They long for. You sing here a fairy catch In that strange tongue I taught you, while ourself Do climb the trees. Thus princely Oberon Ascends his throne of state.
Elves. Nos beata Fauni proles, Quibus non est magna moles, Quamvis Lunam incolamus. Hortos sæpe frequentamus.
Furto cuncta magis bella, Furto dulcior puella, Furto omnia decora, Furto poma dulciora.
Cum mortales lecto jacent, Nobis poma noctu placent; Illa tamen sunt ingrata Nisi furto sint parata.
Jocastus and his man Bromius come upon the Elves while plundering the orchard: the latter is for employing his cudgel on the occasion, but Jocastus is overwhelmed by the condescension of the princely Oberon in coming to his orchard, when
His Grace had orchards of his own more precious Than mortals can have any.
The Elves, by his master's permission, pinch Bromius, singing,
Quoniam per te violamur, Ungues hic experiamur; Statim dices tibi datam Cutem valde variatam.
Finally, when the coast is clear, Oberon cries,
So we are got clean off; come, noble peers Of Fairy, come, attend our royal Grace. Let's go and share our fruit with our queen Mab And the other dairy-maids; where of this theme We will discourse amidst our cakes and cream.
Cum tot poma habeamus, Triumphos læti jam canamus; Faunos ego credam ortos, Tantum ut frequentent hortos.